Doctors looking for limb donors for quadruple-amputee mom

HOUSTON—The Kingwood mother who lost her arms and legs to an infection after giving birth is now looking for limb donors. Surgeons at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who will perform the surgery, made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday.

Katy Hayes, 43, became a quadruple amputee in 2010 following a life threatening Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infection. She has been struggling to adjust to life without her arms and legs.

Her husband quit the job he had in Houston to take care of his wife full-time, but now she wants to do things on her own. She hopes to become the first in the nation to receive a bilateral arm transplant above the elbow.

Hayes said she wants to hold her children and husband, and maybe do a massage.

Doctors are hopeful that she will get that wish.

They are looking at donors for the right skin tone, color and gender.

Even if she gets a match, it will be a slow recovery process once the transplants are done. Doctors say it may take her about 18 months to even move a finger.